Gaming International have taken our club hostage

Richinns · Post by **Richinns** » 17 Dec 2016, 10:48

Thegulls1981 wrote:Its actually (allegidly) worse than that-

A group of good people actually got together to raise the funds (within 24 hours) to support the club until the end of January to allow this takeover to go through. Yesterday in the morning Phillips had indicated he was willing to do it, subject to the meeting at 2pm and gaining approval, by 4pm he changed his mind and signed with GI.

This is however - bang on the money.

brucie · Post by **brucie** » 17 Dec 2016, 10:56

Seriously this can't be true. I just cannot believe this can be the case. I would just about believe anything with this club but IF true this beggars belief.

Thegulls1981 · Post by **Thegulls1981** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:03

Until recently I have always tried to see it from the boards point of view as best I could but more (allegedly) happened in the last 24 hours than most know about and in my mind now Phillips and Co deserve all they get and more.

I hope he is going to be there on Boxing day as I believe in addressing any issues to peoples faces and ill be looking for him.

Richinns · Post by **Richinns** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:06

brucie wrote:Seriously this can't be true. I just cannot believe this can be the case. I would just about believe anything with this club but IF true this beggars belief.

Likewise I can assure all that this is 100% true. There were other options which were in their infancy but a group of fans and some offers from staff had put in sufficient funds to give the club until the January deadline to explore them.

Thegulls1981 · Post by **Thegulls1981** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:17

The fact of the matter is the board have never asked the supporters for help or support which had always appeared odd. On Thursday they got the option without asking for it for support to not sell to GI and not have to fund the next month whilst the alternative buyer was dealt with..... but they played along to outwardly seem like they were trying but then ignored it and sold to GI.

Why didnt they take this assistance? Why didnt they ever ask for help from supporters? Its now clear that the answer is they never wanted any help as they wanted to sell to GI and any assistance from the fans would just get in their way.

Forest gull · Post by **Forest gull** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:19

this is amazing news. How can this happen. FFS

Forest gull · Post by **Forest gull** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:23

So sad Neal but to me a phoenix club will struggle in the bay. Hereford have done well to keep their crowds, FC United did too, but could we? Doubtful

brucie · Post by **brucie** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:24

Although I havn't gone this season, I was not far off being reduced to tears when the news came that we had been sold to GI yesterday. I presumed that this was the only option that we had left.

Of course I am not doubting what the other posters are saying but I just cannot grasp that there might have been a viable alternative.

Post by **Southampton Gull** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:31

I said some time ago that Dave Phillips wasn't entertaining any offers if people weren't prepared to return his investment. I held out hope that the people I knew of would gain control but it now seems that our Chairman has been at the very least sly in his dealings. It's a sad state of affairs and we're at the mercy of an organisation who have little interest in our long term future, just their soon to be even more impressive balance sheet.

gullintwoplaces · Post by **gullintwoplaces** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:37

brucie wrote:Although I havn't gone this season, I was not far off being reduced to tears when the news came that we had been sold to GI yesterday. I presumed that this was the only option that we had left.

Of course I am not doubting what the other posters are saying but I just cannot grasp that there might have been a viable alternative.

Me too Brucie, I was devastated but not surprised at the final confirmation of the disposal of our club to property developers. I'm sure more will emerge about what has actually happened over coming weeks, I hope that minority shareholder fans will demand information. If the story of a late alternative offer/offers is true then it is unforgivable.

Thegulls1981 · Post by **Thegulls1981** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:55

This is (allegedly) the tale of events. Im not Phillips or the person(s) that were directly negotiating and they are the only people that can say 100% what occurred yesterday and perhaps they should be the ones laying the hard facts out for all to see.

SenorDingDong · Post by **SenorDingDong** » 17 Dec 2016, 11:56

Southampton Gull wrote:I said some time ago that Dave Phillips wasn't entertaining any offers if people weren't prepared to return his investment. I held out hope that the people I knew of would gain control but it now seems that our Chairman has been at the very least sly in his dealings. It's a sad state of affairs and we're at the mercy of an organisation who have little interest in our long term future, just their soon to be even more impressive balance sheet.

Absolutely shocking considering that the person who on a number of occasions stated that he didn't want his money back, that he invested even though he knew he'd lose the money and has frequently made insinuations that if someone wanted a say in how the club is run that they should put forward their own money; has now utterly sold out the club and the community for his own benefit, contrary to all his public statements.

Mrdistance · Post by **Mrdistance** » 17 Dec 2016, 12:05

I can assure everyone the. Chinese group were real. I was one of two reps in uk for them. Had number of discussions with board , Agree we came in very late and mostvof the paperwork had been done with GI , but we were convinced we could stop deal and have ours taking , club decided they needed cash injections Friday so stuck with GI I am very disappointed .

knightmaregull · Post by **knightmaregull** » 17 Dec 2016, 12:19

I can't also verify first hand that the directors were given a opportunity to delay handing the noose to GI until the end of Jan with fans clubbing together to fill the financial void at absolute risk. They agreed to do this and inexplicably changed their mind once the news was relayed to GI yesterday afternoon. What GI said to them to bring this change about I have no idea but the directors have acted shamefully in my opinion, giving up when there were still viable escape routes. This all goes beyond incompetence / mismanagement. It's far more murky.

Thegulls1981 · Post by **Thegulls1981** » 17 Dec 2016, 12:22

Your talking about something different to me I think Mrdistance (although as I say there was a rumor of another interested party coming back in too).

The one I refer to was (allegedly) from America and although they were very keen felt timescales would be the end of Jan so funds needed to be found to support the club until this point which is where the 'good people' stepped in to make it viable.

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